Dry shaving appliance



y 1942. J. A. HANLEY 2,290,326

DRY SHAVING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John, AJ an/ley BY ATTORNEYSWM July 21, 1942. J. A. HANLEY 2,290,326

DRY SHAVING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented my 21, 1942 NT- OFFICE DRY SHAVING APPLIANCE John A. Hanley, Noroton, Conm, assignor to Gillette Safety Razor Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application November 21, 1939, Serial No. 305,470

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to hair shearing devices and while not limited thereto, has it preferred application'to power driven dry shaving appliances.

An object of the invention is to provide a blade mounting instrumentality for an apparatus of the above type, which is relatively simple, inexpensive and rugged in construction, and in which repeated removal and replacement of the shearing structure, as for instance for cleaning, is effected with out the likelihood of distorting or jamming any part or otherwise loosening or disturbing any element of the structure, the operation of removal and afllxing the blade assembly being efiected by the simplest of manipulations without the need for tightening or loosening any screw or physically applying or removing any auxiliary clamp or holder.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary lateral end view of one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the assembly of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on line 3-3 of Fig, 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 5,

Fig. 5 is an end elevation with parts broken away,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the holder for the shearing blade assembly,

Fig.7 is a perspective view of one of the holding clamps for the shearing assembly,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig, 1 of an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line llllli of Fig. 9, and with parts in side elevation,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the holder for the shearing assembly in the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10,

Fig. 12 is a greatly enlarged plan view with parts broken away of the shearing assembly, and

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view thereof, takenon line l3l3 of Fig. 12.

Referring now to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 8, there is shown a fragmentary view of the handle casing l5 of an automatic shaver of the electric type. Said handle casing ordinarily would incorporate the motor (not shown) from which the shearing blade is operated by means ally toothed blades, desirably of stainless steel,

correlated in an assembly. the out or fixed blade l8 having inturned flanges I9 determining a sheath for the inner reciprocating or cutting blade 20. The sheathing margins formed by flanges 19 are transversely slotted at 2| to determine the outer shearing teeth. The general type of shearing blade assembly as set forth is described and claimed in my prior Patents Nos. 2,102,529 and 2,151,965. Certain improvements upon said blade assembly of said prior patents are shown in Figs. 12 and 13 and will be described hereinafter,

According to the invention as disclosed in Figs. 1 to 8, the shearing assembly is held in position by a holder unit 22 therefor. This holder unit as shown in Figs. 1 to 8 is a die cast block made up preferably of two identical halves 23 and 24 held rigidly assembled in a unitary structure by a pair of screws or dowel pins 25 and presenting in the finished structure a reduced key 26 to be inserted into a corresponding socket 21 in the forward end of the casing, so that the lateral walls 28 of the holder extend substantially flush with the wall of the casing, shoulders 41 of blade holder 22 resting upon walls 48 on the handle casing structure. A screw 29 through the casing, threaded into a corresponding bore 30 in the holder retains the latter removably mounted upon the casing. The holder also has a median rectangular port 3| through which the operating lever I6 extends.

The shearing assembly is positioned upon the generally rectangular forward face of the holder by means of a pair of studs 32 formed in halves. integral with the castings 23 and 24. Studs .32

the support are however widened as shown, for better support against rocking at the non-shaving ends of the shearing assembly.

For aflixing the shearing blade assembly upon the holder therefor, the structure of the latter overlap the corresponding end edge of the shearing assembly. This lip is preferably of width somewhat greater than that of the shearing assembly and the ends of said lip are joined to the widened upper end of shank 33 by corner pieces 39, thereby to protect the skin from the relatively sharp corners of the shearing assembly which is encased and shielded thereby.

The lower end of each clamp is inturned to form a ledge 40 and that ledge in the assembled construction is accommodated in a bay 4| left by the reduction in height of the blade holder at that region. A coil spring 42 is lodged in a well 46 in holder 22 and reacts against said ledge 40, thereby normally to maintain the clamp in closed position for retaining the shearing assembly in place. An indentation 52 in ledge 40 helps to center the lower end of spring 42. The clamp structure also has a button 43 the shank of which is preferably rigidly riveted thereto as at 44, and protrudes through an elongated slot 45 formed as a notch in the shoulder 41 of the blade holder 30.

The shearing blade assembly is applied by simply pushing the two buttons 43 upward to raise the lips 38, and laterally introducing the shearing assembly to position determined by studs 32. Upon release of the buttons 43 the springs 42 close the clamps, to cause lips 38 to retain the ends of the shearing assembly in place. The removal of the shearing blade assembly, as for instance for cleaning purposes, involves pushing the two buttons 43 in one operation and allowing the blade assembly to drop out by holding the structure sidewise. The clamp shanks 36 are slid freely in these operations since they are guided by the walls of slots 31. No additional clamping structure need be removed in this operation and the danger of distortion or incorrect reapplication is obviated. No screw need be loosened with the. danger of removal and stripping of threads. Since the springs 42 exert the sole force for holding the blade assembly in place, there is eliminated the likelihood of distorting or jamming the thin blade structure, sometimes incurred where the blade is to be positively secured by a tightening screw for instance.

In the embodiment of Figs. 9 to 11 the blade holder is of sheet metal as best shown in Fig. 11, and is'telescoped over the end of the handle casing as shown in Fig. 9. That holder comprises a plate 50 superposed over the end wall of the casing and downturned lateral walls extendin at an angle such as snugly to embrace the side walls of the casing and downturned end walls 52 to engage the end walls of the casing. The holder is applied by one or more screws 53 extending through holes 54 in the side wall.

The holder body has the central aperture 49 for the lever l6 and the upstanding studs 56 riveted thereto at 56 and corresponding to studs 32 in Fig. 6. Narrow transverse slots 51 near the ends of the holder plate 50 accommodate clamp structures similar to that shown in Fig. 7. The

width near its forward end to afford bays 59 ad- Jacent the end walls 52 of the holder structure. Each of the bays accommodates the corresponding coil spring 60 and the supporting ledge 40 therefor. The upper end of coil spring 60 is positioned by indentation Si in the holder plates 50 and its lower end by indentation 62 in ledge 40.

The shearing assembly of Figs. 12 and 13 is substantially same as those of my prior patents except for the spacing of the teeth of the respective blade elements. According to the present invention, the pitch of the teeth of the two coacting blade elements is not equal to, nor is one a multiple of the other. Desirably the pitch of one blade is greater than that of the other in an amount less than 50% and preferably about 25%.. In a preferred embodiment the pitch of the movable unit 20 is .025" and of the fixed unit I8 is .020".

By that arrangement the advantage is attained that effective cutting is accomplished even though the stroke of the inside cutter be of length less than the pitch. With certain simple and inexpensive alternating current vibrator motors, the reciprocating stroke of which is non-uniform and frequently small, the blade construction set forth is particularly useful.

By the arrangement of teeth set forth, it is also noted that the load upon the motor is reduced, since the cutting action of the teeth is progressive from one end to the other of the blade assembly and the load of simultaneously applying hair shearing strain upon a multiplicity of teeth is obviated.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shearing device comprising a casing, a"

- with an inturned protruding lip adapted to overlap the corresponding end of a shearing blade assembly, clamp closing means within the holder and means associated with the respective clamps and exposed for manual operation to permit opening said clamps for release of the shearin blade assembly.

2. In a shearing device, a holder for a shearing blade assembly, adapted to be mounted on the front end of a handle unit, said holder having unitary therewith a pair of spring closed end clamps each with an inturned protruding lip adapted to overlap the corresponding end of a shearing blade assembly and finger operated means for opening the clamps to permit application and removal of the shearing blade assembly.

3. A shearing device comprising a handle, a relatively flat shearing blade assembly and means removably affixing said assembly to the end of said handle, said means comprising a pair of spring closed clampsprotruding forward from the lateral edges of the handle and overlapping the ends of said shearing blade assembly, each of said clamps having an associated spring concealed within corresponding bays in the handle, said spring reacting at one end with a part rigid with said handle and at the other exerting pressure cealed within a corresponding bay in the handle,

said springs reacting at one end with a part rigid with said handle and at the other exerting pressure upon the respective clamps to retain them in closed position, each of said clamps having an associated button rigid therewith, exposed at the exterior of the handle and slidable along the the casing structure to permit opening of the clamp for removal and replacement of the shearing blade assembly.

5. A shearing assembly comprising a handle casing, a blade holder removably aflixed to the forward end of said casing, said holder having a generally rectangular end serving as a support for a flat shearing blade assembly the shearing edges of which protrude laterally beyond the longitudinal edges of said end, a pair of clamps slidable outwardly through corresponding transverse slots along the ends of said blade holder,

. each of said clamps having an inturned lip to overlap the corresponding end of the shearingblade assembly, springs normally urging the respective clamps to holding position, finger-pieces rigid with the respective clamps, the assembled structure affording guides for longitudinal movement of said clamps in the opening and closing sembly and said holder having a pair of clamps with inturned lips protruding through correserving to position the blade assembly 'withre spect to, corresponding slots, in the latter, said holder having-clamps assembled therewithflex tending through elongated slots in theopposite ends of the face thereof, each clamp having ,a protruding inturned lip for overlappingthe corresponding end of the shearing blade assembly,

each clamp having an inturned ledge at the end sponding slots near the ends of theface'of said holder for overlapping the ends of the mounting blade assembly to maintain the latter in,

and presentinga generally rectangular face for] mounting a shearing blade assembly, said face having one or more studs for positioning the assembly, and said holder having a pair of clamps, each of said clamps having a protruding i inturned lip for engaging the corresponding end of the shearing blade assembly, the concealed portion of the clamp being lodged in a corresponding bay and having an inturned ledge,a

coil spring reacting against said ledge and against a portion rigid with said handle casingto, urge the clamp to effective position, each of said clamps having a finger piece accessible fromthe. exterior of the handle and slidable in a longitudinal slot to permit release of the respective clamps for removal and application of the blade assembly.

8. In a shearing device, the combination of a handle casing, a metallic bladeholder structure removably aflixed to the forward end I of; the, handle casing and presenting a substantially recthereof opposite the lip and a coil spring resting upon the ledge, each of said clamps having a button rigid therewith protruding outward through a corresponding longitudinal slot in the respective end walls of the blade holder.

9. A shearing device comprising a handle casing, a unitary blade holder at the forward end of said casing, said holder comprising a metal block with a reducedend adapted to seat in a corresponding depression in the casing and with side walls extending substantially flush with the casing, means for removably aflixing said head to said casing, said head being a solid block affording a central port for a blade operating lever and having a pair of unitary studs at its face for the positioning of a shearing blade"'assembly-,-

said head having wells in the lower face thereof for accommodating coil springs, said head also having an inturned lip for engaging the corre-.

sponding end of the shearing; assembly.

10. In a shearing device, the combination of a blade holder comprising a pair of identical die cast blocksrigidly aflixed to afford in combination a central longitudinal tunnel for an operating lever, a pair of studs protruding from the.

face of the assembled block for the positioning of a shearing blade assembly, a pair of transverse wide slots of small thickness, near-the opposite ends of said assembled block, a pair of blade retaining clamps extending through the respective slots and having inturned ledges at-the. lower ends-thereof and inturned lips at the protruding upper ends thereof, the: latterserving to engageithe corresponding ends of a shearing blade assembly, and coil springs lodged in corresponding wellsin said block and seated upon-the re.-

spective ledges of said clamps.

11. As an article of manufacture, a blade-holder for an automatic shaver comprising a metal block having a flat end face with a 'pairyof pro-. truding short blade positioning studs,- said block having a pair of narrow transverse slotsnearthe ends thereof for accommodating clamp pieces and having a reduced lower extension and having a' pair of downwardly opening wells beyond the end walls of said extension. H

12. A shearing blade .device including ahandle casing, a blade holder at the forward end of said casing, said holder comprising a sheet. metal structure presenting a generally rectangular plate and vdownturned side-and endwalls telescoped over the extremity ofjthe handle. casing, means n for removably affixing said holder to-the handle casing; said plate havingtransverse slots near the ends thereof, clamppieces protruding through i said slots, each of said clamp pieceshaving an. -inturned lip forengagingthe correspondingend of-a shearing blade assembly and havinga cor-i responding inturned ledge at its lowerend, coil.

springs. seated upon the respective ledges and 3. tangular forward faceFfor mount of a relatively flat shearing blade assemblythereo'n, said holder structure including a "pairfof studs at its face studs, an aperture between said studs, narrowslots transversely of said face near the ends thereof and elongated slots along the length of the end walls.

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a handle casing presenting a fiat narrow end wall, a flat shearing blade assembly adapted to be seated against said end wall and a pair of clamps assembled as part of the handle casing structure and including inturned lips extending the width of and presenting closed corners for shielding the corners of a shearing blade assembly, said lips being conformed to the shape of the shearing blade assembly, each of said clamp having a. slide mount with respect to the carrying structure, and having a finger piece to permit release of the corresponding clamp and means to retain the corresponding clamp normally in effective blade holding position.

15. Apparatus of the character described including a holder having a quick removable blade assembly thereon which includes an inner movable blade and an outer fixed blade with inturned flanges, said blades presenting coacting teeth at the lateral edges thereof, the outer blade being bowed away from the inner blade along the width thereof between its toothed edges, said holder having mounting studs extending through aper tures in the inner blade the upper ends of said studs being rounded and engaging and sustaining the bowed intermediate portion of the outer blade.

JOHN A. HANLEY. 

